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Post by porkchopexpress on Mar 24, 2022 13:00:24 GMT
Just picked up a discontinued model Cold Steel Pipe Tomahawk from Alientude on the forum and I thought I'd share what it looks like with a little refinishing as well as a few others I've picked up over the years (as well as a dexter russel pig sticker knife). It's a shame that most of these have been discontinued as they are great lil hawks and very functional with a visible temper line so they take and keep a good edge. Pretty standard procedure of stripping the black primer off the heads and then an overnight vinegar bath and some cold bluing. I take the clear coat off the handles and then some stain followed by a bit of linseed oil. I like to also carve a few rings into the handles for some grip an aesthetics, as well as making an over strike guard by tightly wrapping some jute twine which is glued and lacquered into place.
I've had a thing for tomahawks since the "Last of the Mohicans" movie and these make for fun easy projects, hopefully Cold Steel/American Tomahawk will bring them back.
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Post by alientude on Mar 24, 2022 14:10:25 GMT
I like what you did with the one I sold you. Big improvement!
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Post by divinewind on Mar 24, 2022 14:25:27 GMT
They all look great! I have a CS Rifleman's Hawk that I've had for many years. It gets use around the campsite when I get the chance to go out. It's nothing extraordinary, but it does what I need it to do so I'll never sell it.
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Post by porkchopexpress on Mar 24, 2022 16:37:20 GMT
They really hold up well to actual use, the handles are straight grained and the heads are differentially tempered. Most of them were twenty something bucks when I bought em too, essentially what a tomahawk should be.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Mar 28, 2022 16:43:00 GMT
I like what you’ve done. I’ve been tempted to rework my CS Spike Tomahawk but the factory finish makes it pretty much weather proof, a plus for me, despite its unattractive appearance. It makes a dandy tool with that spike. I did change the handle with a 30" CS War Hammer handle making a difference.
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Post by porkchopexpress on Mar 29, 2022 18:17:41 GMT
They really are proper tools and the factory coating is def more practical. The spike tomahawk puts me in mind of a boarding axe, it's a great model.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Mar 29, 2022 20:25:25 GMT
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Post by markus313 on Mar 30, 2022 17:34:24 GMT
I love my CS hawks and have not one bad thing to say about them. Had all except for the Rifleman's and the Spike Hawk.
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Post by cerberus1426 on Apr 7, 2022 22:36:38 GMT
What did you use to get the Wood that red and the steel that colour of black? Maybe just my selection in the middle of no where for wood stains sucks but I 100% would want to darken a blade to that colour if it is a product i can get for cheap.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Apr 7, 2022 22:53:19 GMT
What did you use to get the Wood that red and the steel that colour of black? Maybe just my selection in the middle of no where for wood stains sucks but I 100% would want to darken a blade to that colour if it is a product i can get for cheap. For the wood I used leather dye. Not by choice but necessity. Wood stains are not available in my country so I use whatever I can scrounge up, coffee, tea, you name it. I have since found some wood scratch remover and latched on to some for future use. As for the blade I did absolutely nothing, that is as it came, the finish nobody likes. The axe was very new when photo was taken and the finish has since worn a little, about all from half the length of the spike from use. The rest is pretty much intact. It’s a durable finish and protects well against rust and I have no intentions of removing it.
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Post by cerberus1426 on Apr 8, 2022 0:59:38 GMT
What did you use to get the Wood that red and the steel that colour of black? Maybe just my selection in the middle of no where for wood stains sucks but I 100% would want to darken a blade to that colour if it is a product i can get for cheap. For the wood I used leather dye. Not by choice but necessity. Wood stains are not available in my country so I use whatever I can scrounge up, coffee, tea, you name it. I have since found some wood scratch remover and latched on to some for future use. As for the blade I did absolutely nothing, that is as it came, the finish nobody likes. The axe was very new when photo was taken and the finish has since worn a little, about all from half the length of the spike from use. The rest is pretty much intact. It’s a durable finish and protects well against rust and I have no intentions of removing it. I never would have guessed leather dye. Did it stay that vibrant over time?
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Post by pgandy on Apr 8, 2022 2:33:45 GMT
I'll try a new photo tomorrow weather permitting. I'm satisfied with the dye's durability.
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Post by pgandy on Apr 8, 2022 17:12:40 GMT
Here it is after nearly a decade, maybe a decade, later. Checked last night and it sliced copy paper. I use it mainly to break up hard soil. It is also good for removing roots. I get the spike under the root then lever it up with the help of the long handle. If not, then a chop comes into play.
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Post by cerberus1426 on Apr 8, 2022 17:30:30 GMT
Ya that still looks really good thanks for the photo.
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Post by eastman on Apr 9, 2022 3:14:43 GMT
when I've been in the local Tandy Leather store, there have been a few woodworkers come there to get leather dyes and stains to use on wood
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Post by pgandy on Apr 9, 2022 12:50:11 GMT
I see your word “vibrant”. Maybe I should add that I use wood oils on it as I do with oil my woods. Since they are also not available here I husband my supply and sometimes substitute mineral oil, but a dedicated oil is better. When it comes to cleaning I use Pledge by Johnson which gives it new life too.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2022 21:15:34 GMT
Nice work man, I been wanting to do. The same thing with my cold steel viking hand Axe, strip down the finish and redo the Axe head and handle. It's amazing how nice they become after a little work
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